The idiot Dr. didn't bother to read my entire report from the sleep study at least 2 months ago...turns out he odered the wrong type of CPAP  I have a rare type of apnea...this time, today I questioned him abt it, wanted to know more....he rated it said mine was mild apnea then says no wait yours is central apnea your brain when sleeping is telling you to only a maxium of 12 breaths per hour!  so my insurance had already paid for a different machine, wasted their money I asked can I return it he says yes just keep the face mask...the Dr faxed the info into health type store I get my machine to turn it in and get the new (much more expensive)...the woman their says she can't take returns and I can't get a new machine until Tues when the guy is there that specializes in iy & I may have to rent it as in pay for it myself when it was doctor's fault!!!! stupid aggrogant twit  He never read the entire report.  Only good thing I can say about, He's not my family doctor!

Anybody have central sleep apnea or know of it?  Sorry I would have posted more but haven't been home.


lynn

sorry about your frustrations...........my son's dr called today saying he has central apnea and that he was prescribing a cpap.  I asked about vpap and he said cpap is quite effective and has been used for years.  He said insurance wont pay for new machines until the tried & true are prooved ineffective.

what type of machine are u trying to get?

ensoul I started off on CPAP in Jan of 07, and it did not work for me, they kept increasing my pressures, and changed me to BiPAP, and BiPAP with supplemental O2, and increased my pressures with that. a year and a half later and a change of doctors and a 6th sleep study the finally put me on VPAP Adapt SV ( that was this past May) I am finally sleeping all night and am starting to feel rested. I have Complex Sleep Apnea, with mostly Centrals, the CPAP and BiPAP was making my condition worse. The sleep center kept saying I needed to be on VPAP ASV but my first doctor didn't believe in it, he said the technology was to new and not proven.  When he got sick I this past spring I was sent to a different Sleep Apnea specialist, he immediately sent me in for a VPAP titration study and I was put on VPAP. It has changed my life! So I understand your frustration, but for me this machine has been a real Godsend!  I hope you get everything straightened out. Don't expect results right away, I have been on since may and I am just now starting to feel results and not being so tired, but I still do have my days. But I am sleeping 6 to 8 hours every night with out having to get up, although I still sometime wake up during the night. Anyway Good Luck to You


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

My story is the same as yours and white beard.  I was started on CPAP that did not work and finally got a VPAP adapt SV.  From my very first study I kept asking about central apnea as that is what I saw on the report but the doc would just blow me off even though the tec and the DME kept agreeing with me.  I was able to turn in my CPAP and get the new machine.


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Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

what is the problem w/all these drs?  why do they not want to use the vpap?  it seems to make sense.  i don't get it.

I think most sleep docs are pulmonary docs and do not believe in central apnea.  Even my nuro doc told me VPAP adapt SV are so new they are still trying to figure them out.  But no doubt they work where the CPAP does not help at all.  I have used mine since 1st of Jun and have no apnea but am still having problems sleeping through the night, and groggy and tired during the day.  The nuro doc told me thins may never go away.


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Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

[       From The Mayo Clinic Site:


Treatment for central sleep apnea (CSA) at Mayo Clinic is highly individualized and treatment plans may change as new options become available. Diagnosing and treating an underlying condition will alleviate CSA in some patients. Other patients will need additional assistance. Options may include:

Supplemental Oxygen
Various forms of oxygen are available, as well as different devices to deliver it to the lungs.

Positive Pressure Breathing
This treatment is frequently used to treat obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but is also used to facilitate breathing in patients with CSA. It involves a small electrical unit with a fan that gently blows air through a tube and mask. A properly fitting device is important. Mayo Clinic has a specially trained nursing staff for troubleshooting problems with device fit. The technology is continually evolving, but current options include:

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP)

Bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) - Lowers the level for exhalation

Auto-adjusting positive airway pressure (PAP) - Automatically increases the pressure if breathing stops and lowers it again when breathing is normal

Adaptive servo-ventilation (ASV) - A newer device records a patient's normal breathing pattern and then uses that data to normalize breathing as necessary Medication Drugs that help modify breathing patterns may help some patients.

There are not many here that have central apnea and I think all of us are using a an Adaptive servo machine.  I like white beard has had a CPAP, and APAP but they did not help.


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

JimK the funny thing is my first sleep doctor was a neurologist, and my second doctor that put me on VPAP is a Pulmonary doctor, but I found out he is also board certified in Sleep Apnea and my Neurologist wasn't. You just never know. Just like my first doctor didn't want you to know anything, and my pulmonary doctor thinks it's great that I am involved with my treatment. Infact I just went to see his Nurse Practioner yesterday and she wants me to start sending her Emails with my data from ResScan.


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

It is strange how things go.  I guess it is all in how the doc thinks.  My first doc was very nice seemed smart went to Johns Hopkins but just would not say the words central apnea.


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

I just heard from someone who was told by their dr that since her daughter's central apnea does not cause desaturations she does not need to use a cpap, or medication.

Do all of you experience desats, without cpap?
I told her I don't think desats are the deciding factor for cpap, but rather the apnea and resulting arousals that strain the heart.  but am I wrong?  is cpap only needed if there are desats?

I had lots of desats even on CPAP.  I also thought the apnea was the reason for the machine and the rating for apnea is based on the AHI not the desats.


_________________
Started 22 Nov 07
AHI 129, O2 level 70%, 2 obstructive SA, 9 mixed apnea, 14 hypopneas, 607 central apnea
Currently using a ResMed VPAP Adapt SV, set at 10EEP and PS of 5 to PS of 10

Even on my first study my O2 stats were low, and my Doctor told me during Rem  my AHI's went really high and my O2 sats went below 70% They didn't put me on O2 until just before they put me on BiPAP that was just after I had the 24 hour at home Pulse-Ox while on CPAP, then I was put on O2 at 2 lpm and was on that up til my last sleep study., On my last sleep study the VPAP ASV titration they did it without supplemental O2, and my O2 sats were in the low 70's even with the VPAP so the Doc ordered supplemental O2 at 3 lpm along with the ASV. Now most of the time my O2 sats are stay between 95 and 97%. but if I start having  apneas it has dropped below 90% even into the low 80's but that is extremely rare now! It has only happened a few times since I have been on this machine.


_________________
White Beard with a White Beard
Resmed VPAP Adapt SV Enhanced, HumidAire 2i, ResLink with Model 8000 Flex sensor Pulse Oximeter, and ResScan 3.5 software. Respironic EverFlo OPI Oxygen Concentrator 3 lpm
EEP 9.0, min PS 6.0, max PS 16.0

Thanks so much all for your great relpy's (ignore my bad spelling) yes the Dr. treating this is a pulmonigist, he had the full report saying it was central sleep apnea but never read it all!  Some Doctor's are so full of themselves I've never liked him, he's my mothers doctor. Luckily my family doctor is excellent the exact opposite of him!  They won't let me return the APAP machine, was told I will have to rent it! My in income is low. My husband died two years ago & it put at the poverty level (we weren't married long even for me get benefits) I'm on SSI and Worker's Compensation's and contrary to poplar believe it pays very little, I don't know how I'll be able to pay for a rental.  I'll find out more on Tues.  Ever since Rick died, I've major problems with my heath.  I had many of the difficulties before now it seems like they're all amplfied.  My chronic pain is much worse, chronic insomnia is too & they've run out of med's to treat the insomnia.  The doctor said my pain med's make the apnea, loss of REM sleep, and insomnia worse.  Though my Mother said that has a young child I always had sleeping problems. Walking, talking, in your sleeping runs in my family. I'm sure there's no connection, but this almost is in childhood I have it now and in past adult year's - night terror's. I would take nightmare anytime over a night terror.  I wake up screaming with my heart racing I utterly terrorized, feel like something is going to kill me....it's worse having them now that I'm alone without Rick to comfort me....I'm sorry really not trying to pull a pitty party....have so many different sleep problems, don't think  tied together, you never know
thank you all again

lynn

well, go ahead and try the cpap....maybe it will help you.  Does your workman's comp. put you over the income limit for medicaid?  (along w/you ssi it very well might, but if you haven't checked you should call your local medicaid office---or look online for eligibility info.).  Since you are on SSI, when workman's comp runs out you probably won't have any difficulty qualifying for medicaid.......are you taking antidepresants?  since apnea, pain, grief, all contribute to depression I would think that might help you.  take care.